The QED engine spectrum - Fusion-electric propulsion for air-breathing to interstellar flightA new inertial-electrostatic-fusion direct electric power source can be used to drive a relativistic e-beam to heat propellant. The resulting system is shown to yield specific impulse and thrust/mass ratio 2-3 orders of magnitude larger than from other advanced propulsion concepts. This QED system can be applied to aerospace vehicles from air-breathing to near-interstellar flight. Examples are given for Earth/Mars flight missions, that show transit times of 40 d with 20 percent payload in single-stage vehicles.
Document ID
19930065848
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Bussard, Robert W. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Jameson, Lorin W. (Energy/Matter Conversion Corp. Manassas, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1993
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 93-2006
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA, SAE, ASME, and ASEE, Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit